Coupling-operating mechanism.



l. H. MILLIKEN.

COUPLING OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12' I915.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANLIURAIH COHWASHIA'GTGN, D4 c TEE STATES PAflENT FFEQE.

ISAAC H. MILLIKEN, OF ASPINWALL, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MQCONWAY &

TORLEY GOI'IEPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

Application filed February 12, 1915.

T all .0710777, it may concern Be it known that 1. Isaac H. MILLIKEN, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Aspinwall, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling-Uperating Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of car couplers which are so applied to railway cars tl at they are capable of swinging or turning so as to permit them to move laterally in their carrier irons when the cars to which they are attached are passing around a curve; and the principal object of the invention is to provide simple, practical, convenient and easily operated devices which may serve both to unlock the coupler and to shift it laterally so as to bring it into proper coupling position when the car is upon a curve. 1

Further objects of my invention are to afford means whereby the power exerted by the operator to shift the coupler laterally may be efiectively increased through the intervention of leverage devices; to provide means for enabling the operator to conveniently and efficiently effect an extended lateral shifting or displacement of the coupler; to provide means whereby the operator may, from the same position, shift the coupler laterally in either direction in the 7 carrier iron; and to so construct and combine the several elements of thedevice that the positions of the parts may serve to indiate the approximate position of the coupler with respect to the longitudinal axis of the car upon which it is mounted.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, the scope whereof is hereinafter pointed out in the claims, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a laterally movable coupler and devices embodying my invention, a portion of the end of acar to which they are applied being also shown. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of certain of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the coupler unlocking and shiftingdevices Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept.21, 1915.

Serial No. 7,675.

in a different position. Fig. is a detail side elevation of one of the operating bars, its actuating lever and the fulcrum member for such actuating lever.

As the invention is generally applicable to couplers designed to have a lateral movement with respect to their carrier irons it is to be understood that the details of construction illustrated in the drawings, although representing the prefer-red embodiment of the invention, are in no wise essential features of the invention in its broad aspect.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a coupler of a well-known type having a stem or shank which may be provided with an opening 2 that is adapted to receive a pivot pin whereby the coupler may be connected to a railway vehicle so as to be capable of extended lateral swinging movements with respect thereto. The coupler is provided with a lock 3 and with the usual pivoted knuckle 4:, and is preferably supported near its forward end in the customary manner by a carrier iron 5 allowing it to shift laterally to the desired extent.

The lock 3, which may be conveniently mounted to slide vertically in the coupler head, is preferably actuated to perform an unlocking movement by means of avertically rotatable arm or finger 6 the outer end whereof projects into a pocket 7 formed in the upper end of the lock. By engaging the top wall 8 of the pocket 7 the actuating arm 6 when rotated upwardly is adapted to effect an unlocking movement of the lock, as will be readily understood.

The lock opera ing member 6 is actuated by devices which also serve a means whereby the operator may shift the coupler laterally within its limits of movement to any desired position on either side of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to which said coupler is attached. These devices preferably involve the employment of one or more stiff, inextensible bars or members 9 which are movably mounted with respect to the coupler 1 so as to be capable of inducing an unlocking movement of the lock 3, and which are also adapted to impart to the coupler either a pushing or a pulling force accordingly as the necessity of the case may require the operator to swing the coupler to one side or the other of its central position. As shown. in the drawings, it is preferred to movably connect the members 9 with the coupler 1 through the instrumentality of a reroluble shaft 10 which is journaled in separated bearings 11 that are integrally united to the coupler and project upwardly from the upper surface of the head thereof. The shaft 10 may b I conveniently retained in assembled position in the bearings 11 by means of cotter pins 12 that span the openings through which the said shaft is assembled in said bearings. Between the ournalbearings 11 the shaft 10 is provided with stops or shouldered portions 13 and 1 1 which are adapted to respectively engage the corre sponding journal bearings and thus transmit to the coupler 1 such pulling or pushing forces as the operator may apply to either of the members 9 to move the coupler laterally in the desired direction.

l 'he lock actuating arm 6 is preferably formed inte ral with the shaft 10 so that when the latter is rotated the arm 6 will eX ecute a corresponding movement, thus causing the lock 3 to positively execute an unlocking movement.

In order toprovide a connection between each of the slidable operating bars 9 and the shaft lOsuch as will enable the coupler 1 to execute longitudinal and lateral or swinging movements without imparting any substan .tial lateral strains to said operating bars, it

is preferred to form the ends of the shaft 10 with eyes 15 which receive the upturned inner ends 16 of the corresponding members 9. Cotter pins 17 which extend through the ends 16 of the operating bars 9 andcengage the upper faces of the corresponding eyes 15 may conveniently serve as a means for maintaining the integrity of the connection be tween the rods 9 and the shaft 10. As shown more especially in Figs. 3 and 4, the apertures through the eyes 15 are preferably formed with flaring, segmental portions 18 and 19 whicheXtend in opposite di- I rections, whereby, as will be appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 4, either of the.

operating rods 9 may be independently rotated to .ause a correspondin rotation of the shaft 10, and whereby also the operating rods 9 may be permitted to return to normal position while the shaft 10, after having'been rotated to cause the lock 3 to execute anunlocking movement, remains in a position corresponding either to the lock-' set position of the lock or to the unlocked position of the lock when the knuckle is open. Y

The means which it is preferred to. employ for both rotating and pulling or pushmgthe laterallyextendmg operating rods or members 9 are as follows: The outer end W hen the coupler is in its normal position 1 effected. raised positlon, the operator pulls or pushes 7 upon it, as the necessary directlon of movethe levers'21 hang vertically, their long arms extending downwardly in a position where they may be readily grasped by the operator, and their shorter arms extending upwardly and standing opposite the corresponding central pockets of members 23, which are rigidly secured to the end of the car at opposite sides thereof to serve, as will presently appear, as fulcra. or abutments'for V lVhen the coupler is to be moved laterally llllOll or from its central position the longerarm of 7 one of the levers 21 1s grasped by theoperator and raised or turned upwardly and for; wardly until the shorter arm of the" said lever enters the middle pocket 2 1 'ofthe corresponding abutment casting. his movement of the lever 21 causes a rotation ofgthe adjacent rod 9 sufficient tounlock the cou pler 1 or to causethelniuckle t to be re:

tated to open position when the'coupler is V equipped with knuckle opening mechanism, the inclined bottom of the pocket 24 arresting the rotatory movement of the lever by which the unlocking of the coupler 1 is With the lever 21' held in this ment of the coupler may require, such pull or push'being transmitted to the adjacent operating member 9 and through the latter to the coupler 1. The force exerted by the operator to move the coupler laterally is increased in transmission to the coupler, the

end of the shorter arm of the lever 21 fulcruming'upon one or the other of the vertical walls of whichever pocket 24, 25 or 26, as the case may be, the lever '21 may extend intoat-the time.

Should extreme lateral V .movement. ofthecoupler 1 be desired or should the leverage obtained when the lever .21 is extending. into the middle pocket 24:

be insufiicient :to permit the operator to readily shift the coupler to the desired positron, the coupler 1 may be moved laterally a portion ofthe required distance while the lever-21 extends into the pocket 2 1, after which the upperend'of'the lever 21 may be transferred to the appropriate one. ofthe adjacent pockets 25 and 26, thus affording better leverage for inducing further movement of the coupler; Brackets such as '27 are preferably employed to support the operating rods or members 9 from the car body in such manner that said rods may be capable of sliding, turning and swinging or oscillating freely. As shown in the drawings it is preferred to form such brackets integral with the adjacent fulcrum member 23.

I claim:

1. In mechanism of the character indiated, the combination with a coupler which is mounted upon a railway vehicle so as to be capable of lateral movement at its outer end with respect to said vehicle, of a locking device for maintaining the parts of the coupler in coupled relation, means for actuating the locking device to cause it to assume an unlocked position, and means for moving the coupler laterally in either direction, each or" said means being rotatably movable on a common aXis and involving means common to both.

2. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with coupler which is adapted to be connected to a railway vehicle so as to be capable of swinging movements with respect thereto, of a locking device for maintaining the parts of the coupler in coupled relation, and means extending toward the side of the car for swinging the coupler in either direction, said means eing rotatable upon an axis extending in its direction of length to cause an unlocking movement of said locking device.

3. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler invo ving a locking device for maintaining the parts of the coupler in coupled relation, of means movably mounted on said coupler for actuating the locking device to cause it to assume an unlocked position, said means involving plurality of members having a jointed connection, and said jointed connec tion involving a member having an aperture provided with opposite segmental walls which flare in opposite directions.

4-. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler involving a locking device for maintaining the parts of the coupler in coupled relation, of rotatable means for actuating the looking device to cause it to assume an unlocked position, said means involving a plurality of members having a jointed connection, one of said connected members being mounted on the coupler, and said jointed connection involving a member having an aperture formed with a flaring segmental wall.

In cat-ed, the combination with a carrier iron, of a coupler mounted on a railway vehicle so as to be capable of lateral movement with respect to said carrier iron, of means for moving said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever which is adapted to engage a plurality of fulcra.

6. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a carrier iron,

mechanism of the character indi of a coupler mounted on a railway vehicle 7 so as to be capable of lateral movement with for maintaining the parts of the coupler in coupled relation, a bar which is movable laterally coextensively with the coupler and which is rotatable to effect an unlocking movement of said locking device and which is slidable to effect lateral movement or said coupler, and a lever movably connected to said bar.

8. In mechanisnrof the character indicated, the combination with a carrier iron,

of a coupler mounted on a railway vehicle so as to be capable or" lateral movement with respect to said carrier iron, a locking device for maintaining the parts of the coupler in coupled relation, a bar which is rotatable to effect an unlocking movement vof said locking device and which is slidable to eiiect lateral movement of the coupler, a

lever connected to said bar, and means aliording a plurality of fulcra for said lever.

9. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a couplermounted on a railway vehicle so as to be capable of moving laterally with respect thereto, of means for moving said coupler laterally, said means involving a lever, a member having a plurality of recesses each adapted to receive one end of said lever, and means connected to said lever and adapted to transmit power to said coupler to move the same laterally.

10. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a carrier iron, of a coupler mounted on a railway vehicle so as to be capable of lateral movements with respect to said carrier iron, a locking device for maintaining the parts of the cou pler in coupled relation, a shaft revolubly mounted on said coupler head and provided with means for actuating said locking'device, said shaft being also provided with means for communicating lateral movement to said coupler, slidable and revoluble bars movably connected to said shaft and respectively extending toward opposite sides of the vehicle, levers respectively connected to said bars, and means allording a plurality of tulcra for each of said levers.

11. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a carrier iron, of a coupler mounted on a railway vehicle so as to be capable of lateral movement with respect to said carrier iron, a locking device for maintaining the parts of the coupler in coupled relation, a shaft revolubly mounted on said coupler head and being-adapted to actuate said locking device and being provided with means for communicating lateral movement to said coupler, slidable and independently revoluble bars connected to said shaft, and operating leversfconnected to their respective bars, each of said bars being movably connected to said shaft by means involving an eye having a flared opening whereby either of. said bars may rotate said shaft independently of the other bar. 7

12. In mechanism ofthe character inclicated, the combination with a carrier iron, of a coupler mounted on a railway vehicle so as to be capable of lateral movement within said carrieriron, bars connected. to"

said coupler and respectively extending toward opposite sides of the car, means for slidably mounting said bars on the railway vehicle, leverage devices movably connected to the outer ends of the respective bars, and

fulcrum members for the respective levers,

each of said fulcrum members being pro- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by. addressing Washington, D. 0.

and an operating lever adapted to be'operatively connected to said coupler and to cooperate with said fulcrum member.

1-1. In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a laterally movable coupler, of a member provided with a plurality of pockets each of which is adaptand also provided with a portion adapted to support a slidable bar, an operating lever adapted to enter the said pockets, and a slidable bar operatively connecting said lever and said coupler.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC u. MiLL nn'N. Witnesses: FRANCES L. Srnaoun,

J. W. HARTLEY.

the Commissioner of Patents,

ed to receivethe endof an operating lever, 

